Mail-bag catcher.



No. 864,620. PATENTED AUG. 27, 1907.

. L. DIDIER.

MAIL BAG GATCHER.

APPLwATrox rrwnun. ao. 1907,

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@Ui h1 enea LOUIS DIDIER, OF SANDUSKY, OlllO.

MAIL-BAG CATCHER.

Speecaton of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 27, 1907.

Application filed January 30,1907. Serial No. 354,869.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, Louis DIDIER, a citizen ofthe United States of America, residing at Sandusky, in the county of Erie and State ol Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mail-Bag Catchers, of which the following is a speciiication.

This invention relates to mail bag catchers, and one of the principal objects of the same is to provide a si'mple and el'licient device which will deliver` a mail bag at a station and at the same time collect a bag by one continuous operation.

Another object oi the invention is to provide a mail bag catcher composed of two members, one oi which is secured to the car, and the other supported in position upon a platform to engage the member on the car. and to receive a Inail bag irom the car, and to deposit a mail bag within the member attached to the car.

These and other objects may be attained by means of the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view oi the two members forming the mail bag catcher, said two members being separated, and shown in position prior to their engagement by the movement of the car upon which one of said members is designed to be attached. Fig. 2 is a side view and partial section of a mail bag catcher made in accordance with my invention, and showing one position in which the two members are adapted to occupy in depositing and taking up a mail bag. Fig. 3 is another position in the operation oi the device, one member of said bag catcher being shown in section. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the member of the catcher adapted to be attached to the car.

Reierring to the drawings for a more particular description o'f my invention, the numeral 1 designates the stationary member designed to be secured at the side olf a track upon a postor other suitable support, said member 1 comprising a flanged base 2 projecting outward lrom a central web 3 provided with vertical side iianges 4, spaced apart, and provided with beveled iront ends 5. A bag stop G is secured at 7 to the bottom 8 of the trough formed between the flanges 4, said stop having a curved portion 9, and the iront edge 10 thereof extending across between the flanges 4 near their upper edges. p

The movable member oi' the bag catcher comprises a chute or casing having a iiaring end 11, and the bottom portion of said chute having a slot 12 therein with a iiaring mouth 13, said slot adapted to engage the web portion 3 of the stationary member. The inwardly exl tending lianges 14 .forming the bottom of the chute has beveled 'front ends 15. The rear end of the Chute is inclined, as at 16, and a door 17 is hinged at this end, the hinge 18, being secured to the top of the chute and to an extension 19 on the cover 1G. A push-rod 2() provided with a rectangular frame 2l. connected to the extended portion 19 of the door 17 is mounted at its opposite end in a bracket 22, and a spring 23 surrounds said push-rod, one end ol said spring bearing against a collar 24, and the opposite end against the bracket 22, the tension of said spring being exerted to close the door 17.

The operation of my invention may be briefly rcferred to as follows: 'lhe stationary member of the mail bag catcher, being supported at the side oi the track, and the movable member being secured at the side of a car, as said movable member is brought into engagement with the stationary member, the flaring opening 11 inoloses the stationary member, the i'langes 14 passing under the side flanges 4, and the iront edge l() of the stop G engaging the end a oi the mail bag placed in the movable member serves to open the door 17 as said movable member is carried along to deposit said bag upon the floor 8 oi the stationary member. The mail bag b :for the outgoing mail is placed upon the floor 8 at a point one side of the stop 6, and as the movable member passes Vfrom right to left in Fig. 2, the door 17 rides upon the curved portion 9 o the stop, and engages the end of the mail bag at b, and as the movable member passes out of engagement with the stationary member, the bag l) is deposited upon the flanges 14 in the movable member, from which position it is removed and placed within the car.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that a mail bag catcher iliade in accordance with my invention will deposit a bag of incoming mail and collect a bag oi outgoing mail without stopping the train; that the device is comparatively simple in construction, and can be manufactured and installed without excessive cost.

Having thus described the invention, what l claim is'.

1. A. mail bug catcher comprisingl a member designed to be supported at thc side of a track and comprising a trough havingl a curved stop, and a member designed to be secured to a car, and provided with a flaring mouth and a slotted bottom. to engage und pass over the stationary member, a spring closed door for said movable member, said door adapted to ride over the stop and engage a mail bag and deposit it in said movable member, substantially as described.

2. A mail bag catcher comprising a stationary member provided with a curved stop, a movable member adapted to engage said stationary member and provided with a door,

l() st:

a push-rod secured to said door, a spring on the push-rod,v

and means whereby a mail bag, is deposited in the stationary member, and a mail bag is collected by the stationary member by the movement of one member over the other.

3. A mail bag Catcher comprising a stationary member having a trough-like open upper side, a curved Stop in said trough, and a movable member having a daring' mouth to engage said trough, said movable member having a slotted bottom which permits the passage of said member over the :iouary member, a spring closed door, said door adapted to engage the curved portion of the stop, and to engage a mail bag in said trough to deposit it within the movable member, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I afIix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS DIDIER.

Witnesses Fra-INK Bonn, JENNIE DIDIER. 

